Kashmir Flood: Mother cried in horror but Indian cricketer ditched death for his bat

Srinagar, Sept 16: Initially there were rumours that the young cricketer from Kashmir -- Parveez Rasool, who recently got chance to play as a member of Team India, was missing during the massive flood that hit the valley. However, the young cricketer and his family members are safe as he finally succeeded to contact with their relatives after 11 days.

Rasool, while speaking to media, recounted his horrible experience when he faced death from near. He also recounted the moment when he had snubbed his mother's screaming and jumped into water just to get his bat and cricket kit.

The cricketer, who is the captain of the Jammu and Kashmir Ranji team and made his debut in One-Day Internationals (ODI) in 2014, was quoted as saying, "For the last 11 days, I was literally cut off from the society as none of the telephones or cell-phones were working. There was no internet connection. It was a helpless situation for me and my family. We were staying on the first floor as the ground floor was filled with flood water. I would like to inform all my friends and relatives that we are safe."

We were staying on the first floor as the ground floor was filled with water

"I am able to take this call as I am getting a mobile signal some 2 kilometres from my residence. I came to know that there were rumours that there was no trace of me and my family due to the floods. That's wrong. Yes, the situation was terrible but it's better in Anantnag right now. I am planning to come to Srinagar within the next two days. I haven't been able to contact my Jammu and Kashmir Ranji teammates," said 25-year-old Rasool.

Recounting the ordeal as water gushed into his home, Rasool said, "The worst part was one of my favourite bats was left in my car along with a costly backpack. The car was totally under water and my mother was against me going downstairs. I still went there, neck-deep in water and got them back."

"By the grace of God, I have access to facilities which a lot of poor people don't have. I only hope that by next week, things change for the better as the people from the economically backward strata are the ones who have been suffering a lot. You are pained by their plight," added the young cricketer.

The cricketer also informed that he later joined in relief work being carried out by an NGO which had helped his family when they were stranded. Rasool was stranded in the massive flood in which more 300 people died and many were displaced from their residences.